Week of August 2, 2021 in Review
July’s Jobs Report from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) showed that there were 943,000 new jobs created. This was stronger than expectations of 870,000 new jobs. Plus, positive revisions to data from May and June showed there were an additional 119,000 new jobs in those months combined. The Unemployment Rate also dropped from 5.9% to 5.4%. While this is great news on the surface, it’s important to dig deeper into this data, as explained below.
Private sector job creations were a disappointment in July, however, as the ADP Employment Report showed a gain of 330,000 jobs – less than half of market expectations. Job gains were reported across all sizes of business, with leisure and hospitality jobs once again leading the way, which makes sense as more businesses reopen.
Initial Jobless Claims declined by 14,000 in the latest week, with the number of people filing for unemployment for the first time reported at 385,000. The number of people continuing to receive regular benefits also dipped below 3 million for the first time since the pandemic began, reaching a post-pandemic low of 2.9 million. All told, 13 million individuals are still receiving benefits throughout all programs, which is down 181,000 from the previous week.
Hot home prices also made headlines, as CoreLogic’s latest Home Price Index report showed that home prices rose by 2.3% from May to June. Prices also increased 17.2% year over year, which is up from the 15.4% annual gain reported for May. Meanwhile, rents are also on the rise; don’t miss our important analysis about this.
Last, the Fed chatter continues regarding their purchases of Mortgage Backed Securities and Treasures, which have been ongoing to help stabilize the markets. Read on to see what was said.
Strong Job Creations in July
The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reported that there were 943,000 jobs created in July, which was stronger than expectations of 870,000 new jobs. In addition, there were positive revisions to May’s and June’s reports, adding 119,000 new jobs in those months combined.
Note that there are two reports within the Jobs Report and there is a fundamental difference between them. The Business Survey is where the headline job number comes from and it’s based predominately on modeling.
The Household Survey, where the Unemployment Rate comes from, is done by actual phone calls to 60,000 homes. The Household Survey also has a job loss or creation component, and it showed there were 1,043,000 job creations, while the labor force increased by 261,000. The number of unemployed people decreased by 782,000, causing the Unemployment Rate to fall by from 5.9% to 5.4%.
But it’s important to look a bit deeper at the Unemployment Rate, as the true Unemployment Rate is actually higher than the headline figure. There is a lingering misclassification error where people were classified absent from work for other reasons and not marked as unemployed on temporary layoff when they should have been. When we factor this into the calculations, the Unemployment Rate should have been around 0.3% higher, totaling 5.7%.
In addition, people who have not looked for work in the last four weeks are also not counted in the labor force or counted as unemployed – and that number totals 6.5 million. When we factor this into the calculations as well, the Unemployment Rate is really closer to 9.2%. When these individuals start looking for work again, they will be counted in the calculations, which could drive the Unemployment Rate higher until they actually find a job. We may see this occur after Labor Day, when the extra unemployment benefits are cut everywhere.
Also of note, wages were on the rise as average hourly earnings were up 0.4% from June to July and they were also up 4% year over year. Average weekly earnings, which we focus on more because it measures what people actually take home, were up 0.4% in July. Year over year weekly earnings are up 4.6%, but if we extrapolate the last few months on a year over year basis, the increase in weekly earnings is closer to 6.5%, which is more indicative of what we are seeing.
Private Payrolls Below Expectations
The ADP Employment Report, which measures private sector payrolls, showed that there were 330,000 jobs created in July, which was less than half of market expectations. Additionally, June’s report was revised lower by 12,000 jobs, bringing the total number of jobs created in June to 680,000.
The services sector led the way in July with 318,000 job creations; leisure and hospitality jobs showed the strongest gains again with 139,000 new jobs. The goods producing sector only increased by 12,000 jobs.
There were job gains across all sizes of businesses. Small businesses (1-49 employees) gained 91,000 jobs, mid-sized businesses (50-499 employees) gained 132,000 jobs, and large businesses (500 or more employees) gained 106,000 jobs.
After losing almost 20 million jobs during the pandemic, we have recovered back almost 13 million. Yet, there are still 7 million unrecovered jobs while there are 9.3 million job openings.
Continuing Jobless Claims Fall Below 3 Million
The number of people filing for unemployment for the first time declined by 14,000 in the latest week, as Initial Jobless Claims were reported at 385,000. California (+65K), Texas (+29K) and Pennsylvania (+19K) reported the largest number of claims.
The number of people continuing to receive regular benefits was down 366,000 as Continuing Claims were reported at 2.9 million. This is the first dip below 3 million since the pandemic began, and it is also a post-pandemic low.
Pandemic Unemployment Assistance Claims (which provide benefits to people who would not usually qualify) and Pandemic Emergency Claims (which extend benefits after regular benefits expire) also decreased by 92,000 combined.
As of this latest report, 13 million individuals are still receiving benefits throughout all programs, which is down 181,000 from the previous report. It’s likely that all of the figures within this report will improve once September comes and all of the extended benefits expire.
Home Prices Heating Up
CoreLogic released their Home Price Index report for June, showing that home prices rose by 2.3% from May. Prices also increased 17.2% year over year, which is up from the 15.4% annual gain reported for May.
Within the report, the hottest markets once again were Phoenix (+27%), San Diego (+22%) and Denver (+18%).
CoreLogic forecasts that home prices will rise 0.7% in July and 3.2% in the year going forward. But remember in June, they only anticipated an 0.8% monthly increase and prices ended up rising 2.3%. On an annual basis, they are forecasting that prices will rise 3.2%, which is lower than their 3.4% annual forecast from May’s report and lower than most forecasts out there.
While higher home prices and low inventory are challenges for homebuyers, the alternatives aren’t favorable, either.
The Apartment List National Rent Report for July showed a 2.5% increase in rental prices from June. Prices are up by 10.3% compared to July of last year and they’re also 9.4% higher compared to pre-pandemic levels from March 2020. In addition, cities that lagged like San Francisco and New York are seeing sharp snap backs. Other cities continue to have rapid rental gains led by Boise, Idaho, where rents are up 39% since the start of the pandemic.
The bottom line is rents are rising almost at the pace of home prices and rents can continue to go up each year. With a home purchase, unless you have an adjustable rate mortgage, your payment will remain the same. Of course, taxes and insurance can rise modestly, but this is miniscule compared to rental increases. Additionally, remember that part of a mortgage payment is your own money in principal.
Fed Chatter Makes Headlines
Fed Governor and possible next Fed Chair, Lael Brainard, commented on when she believes the Fed should begin tapering their purchases of Mortgage Backed Securities and Treasuries, which have been ongoing to help stabilize the markets. Brainard said that she expects to be more confident in assessing progress once the September data is in hand, when consumption, school, and work patterns settle into a post-pandemic normal. She agrees with Fed Chair Jerome Powell in saying that employment has some distance to go.
Because the data is always delayed a month, her statements mean she would not feel confident in assessing progress until October, with the closest Fed meeting being November 2-3. And since the Fed said that they will give plenty of advanced warning before actually tapering, it’s possible they may announce their plans at their November meeting but not actually begin tapering until early 2022.
Fed Governor and voting member, Chris Waller, was also in the news with a differing opinion than many other Fed members. He stated he would be ready to start tapering sooner, in October if he sees strong job growth for July and August. He thinks if we see 2 million job creations over those two reports, this would fulfill the “substantial progress” the Fed is looking for in the labor market.
What to Look for This Week
Inflation data headlines this week’s economic calendar, with July’s Consumer Price Index releasing on Wednesday while the Producer Price Index (which measures wholesale inflation) will be reported on Thursday.
Also of note, Tuesday brings an update on how small business owners are feeling with the National Federation of Independent Business Small Business Optimism Index for July. On Thursday, the latest Jobless Claims figures will be reported as usual.
Investors will also be watching two important auctions closely, first on Wednesday with the 10-year Note auction followed by Thursday’s 30-year Bond auction
Technical Picture
After the stronger than expected BLS Jobs Report on Friday, Mortgage Bonds broke beneath both their 25-day Moving Average and the 101.45 Fibonacci level. Mortgage Bonds ended last week in a range between the aforementioned Fibonacci level and support at their 50-day Moving Average. The 10-year is trading at around 1.30% after breaking above the triple ceiling at 1.29%.
